Multiple unit container



Nov. 27, 1962 s. LIPSCHUTZ ETAL MULTIPLE UNIT CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1961 INVENTORS. SIDNEY LIPSCHUTZ EDWARD H. BARNETT A TTORNE YS.

Nov; 27, 1962 s. LIPSCHUTZ ETAL 3,065,895

MULTIPLE UNIT CONTAINER Filed April 25, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllllllllljliififiif" 7 Illlllllllll\lll y l I l 1 I I I I I k I 30 4e 42 44 5o 28 26 34 17y. .2 zzvmvroxs.

SIDNEY LIPSCHUTZ BY EDWARD H. BARNETT ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofitice masses Patented Nov. 27, 19 %2 3,065,895 MULTHLE UNIT CONTAINER Sidney Lipschutz, and Edward H. Barnett, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Chemical Sales, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 25, 1961, Ser. No. 105,486 5 Claims. (Cl. 229-14) This invention relates to containers for corrosive liquids and, more particularly, it relates to containers of the multiple unit type.

It has been the prior practice in the industry to package corrosive liquids such as acids or alkaline materials in containers consisting of a relatively rigid outer unit made of fiberboard enclosing a flexible inner unit of noncorrosive material such as polyethylene, cellulose ace tate and the like.

One of the flexible inner units heretofore used has consisted of a tubular member sealed completely along its bottom edge and also sealed along its top edge except for a spout member extending therefrom which is not sealed until the bag has been filled.

Another flexible unit heretofore used has consisted of an outer bag and inner bag positioned therein, the two bags being secured together with a common seal along the bottom edge thereof. The seals in the foregoing bags have generally comprised two closely spaced parallel seals separated by a small air space ratherthan a single line of sealing.

In other applications, the spout has been eliminated and instead, the fiexible inner container was initially sealed along its entire top and bottom edges. Thereafter, an upper corner was cut oil? to permit the corrosive liquid to be dispensed into the package and, finally, a seal was formed adjacent the upper corner.

Corrosive liquids packaged in the foregoing manner are dispensed by means of a probe of the nature of the device disclosed and claimed in pending application Serial No. 845,851 filed October 12, 1959. The probe is thrust directly through the wall of the relatively rigid outer container (fiberboard box) and then continues to penetrate through the flexible wall or Walls of the inner container. The plastic memory of the material comprising the flexible bag tightly adheres about the probe, and the corrosive liquid contained in the flexible bag may flow only through the probe and then through a hose secured to the probe to be dispensed as desired. Clamping means are positioned about the hose at a desired point to control the dispensing of the corrosive liquid.

The foregoing probe constitutes a very simple and highly effective means of great safety for dispensing corrosive liquids. However, as previously stated, the inner container or containers are necessarily flexible. Thus, it has been found in actual practice that when the probe is inserted through the wall of the rigid container and plunges still further against the outer wall of the flexible inner container the flexible inner container has a tendency to slide away from the pressure of the probe. Hence, the insertion of the probe may be rendered more difficult and, also, the piercing of the inner bag may be such that the probe enters the bag at a relatively small acute angle rather than the preferred right angle entry. Hence, insertion of the probe may be a faulty one so that leakage around the probe will occur.

The foregoing problem was effectively solved in prior copendingapplication Serial No. 9,898 filed February 19, 1960, where in the inner bag was provided with a foldable spout which was fastened to an inside portion of an outer flap of the rigid container. The flap was then folded in a conventional manner upon previously folded inner flaps to complete the packaging. Thus the spout was interposed between the inner and outer flaps of the rigid container in the fully assembled package and the probe was thrust into the relatively rigid container at 5 a point closely adjacent to the folded and interposed flap. Hence, the flexible container adjacent the entry of the probe is held fast in position, and penetration of the probe is accomplished at a substantial right angle.

However, the foregoing device necessitated a filling 10 spout. Moreover, where the flexible inner container ised outer and inner flexible bags, the problem of the pressure of the probe existed to a sub- "al degre foregoing problems were effectively solved in cog application Serial No. 43,532 filed July 18, 19 60, ii an adhesive surface was interposed along a outer bags so that 1 net bag would not slide away from the pressure 20 the inserted probe. in addition, adhesive tape means w re fastened to the outer surface of the flexible container and then led between the folded inner flaps of the relatively rigid outer container and, finally, over the outer surface of one of the inner flaps to be secured against the external surface of the relatively rigid outer The probe was accordingly thrust into the relatively rigid outer container at a point adjacent the emergence of the tape therefrom.

The foregoing technique has constituted a very effecltive solution to the above specified problems. However, it entails considerable labor and a certain amount of care in interposing the adhesive surface between the inner and outer flexible bags as well as threading the adhesive tape means between the inner flaps and fastening it against the relatively rigid outer container.

it is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved multiple unit container including 11 inner double-wa led container which will not slide under the force of the insertion of the probe and wherein the inner and outer walls of the flexible inner container will be held against movement relative to each other.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved multiple unit container wherein the inner contained is not provided with a filling spout but is sealed at its top and bottom ends.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser package of the aforesaid type wherein both the inner and outer walls of the inner container are held subm stantially secured from rupture at the point of entry of the probe.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser package of the aforesaid type which is relative: ly simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

The foregoing, as well as other objects of the invention, are achieved by providing a flexible inner container comprising an outer bag and an inner bag sealed together along their upper and lower edges. One of the lower corners of the bag is laid upon a bracing member, a piece of relatively rigid material such as corrugated cardboard of the same general dimensions as a lateral cross section of the relatively rigid outer container. Thus, the bracing member will interfit into the relatively rigid outer container. The corner of the flexible container is secured to the bracing member by adhesive tape, heat sealing, etc.

then sealed. Thereafter, the upper flaps of the relatively rigid outer container are folded in place and so secured by tape means in a conventional manner. Dispensing is effected by inserting through the outer wall of the relatively rigid outer container adjacent the folded flap, such that it passes through the walls of the outer and inner bags which do not slide away from the probe.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the flexible inner container of the present invention with respect to the relatively rigid outer container;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flexible inner container and the bracing member in a first stage of assembly;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but showing the components in a second stage of assembly;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but shows the components in a final stage of assembly;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the assembled unit with the probe inserted;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 99 of FIG. 7.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, an improved multiple unit container embodying the present invention is generally shown at 10 in FIG. 1. Device 10 basically comprises rigid outer container 12 and flexible inner container 14 adapted to hold the corrosive liquid and be positioned within rigid container 12.

The rigid outer container 12 is of corrugated cardboard construction and basically comprises a front panel 16, a rear panel 17 (FIG. 8), a side panel 18 and an opposing side panel 19 (FIG. 9). Side flaps 20 and 22 extend from the front panel 16. Complementary side flaps (FIG. 7) 24 and 26 extend from the rear panel 17. Relatively short end flaps 28 and 30 extend from the side panels 18 and 19. As shown in FIG. 9, end flaps 28 extends from the side panel 18 and end flap 30 extends from the side panel 19. End flap 32 (FIG. 1), similar to the end flaps 28 and 30, extends from the upward edge of side panel 18 and a similar end panel (not shown) extends from the upper edge of opposing side panel 19.

As best indicated in FIGS. 1, 7 and 9, the relatively rigid outer container is assembled by first tucking in bottom end flaps 28 and 30 (FIG. 9) and then positioning side flaps 22 and 26 beneath the end flaps. The side flaps 22 and 26 are so constructed as to essentially abut along their longitudinal edges when folded toward each other. External adhesive tape 34 is positioned to lie externally against both abutting side flaps to secure them in an assembled position. The external tape 34 is of suflicient length to include end portions 36 and 38 which are respectively positioned against side panels 18 and 19.

After the inner container 14 has been positioned in the relatively rigid outer container 12, filled and sealed, the upper end flaps are folded upon the flexible inner container in a manner similar to end flaps 28 and 30. Thereafter, side flaps 20 and 24 are folded over the end flaps and lie essentially in an abutting relationship similar to the end flaps 22 and 26. Finally, upper external adhesive tape 40, similar to external tape 34, is positioned over the abutting flaps to complete the packaging of the unit.

Flexible inner container 14 basically comprises inner bag 42 and outer bag 44 sealed together along their lower edges (not shown) either with a single seal or with two closely spaced parallel seals separated by an air space (FIG. 6) as disclosed and claimed in the applicants prior copending application Serial No. 14,838.

It is further to be noted as shown in FIG. 5 that both the inner bag 42 and the outer bag 44 may be produced from a fiat sheet of material having its longitudinal edges sealed together as at 68 and 70. As shown in FIG. 6, the lower edges of the inner and outer bags are secured together by means of a double seal comprising upper seal 72 and lower seal 74 spaced in parallel relationship from each other by means of air space 76.

As shown in FIG. 2, a lower corner 46 of the inner container 14 is positioned upon bracing member 48 of corrugated cardboard or similar material of dimensions substantially the same as a horizontal cross-section of relatively rigid outer container 12. The corner 46 is presented to the bracing member 48 in such a manner that it includes the corner of the inner bag as well as the outer bag. Such an arrangement exists without any special care or preparation because it is to be remembered that the inner and outer bags are sealed together along their lower edges which are partially included in corner 46.

After the corner 46 has been positioned upon the bracing member 48 as shown in FIG. 2, a piece of internal adhesive tape 50 is positioned over the corner 46 in such a manner as to secure it to the bracing member 48 as shown in FIG. 3. The bracing member 48 is now folded to lie beneath the flexible inner container 16 as shown in FIG. 4. This folding action necessarily causes the corner 46 to be folded along a folded line 52 as it is carried along with bracing member 48.

The assembly of FIG. 4 is now positioned within the relatively rigid container 12 in a manner shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, corrosive liquid is dispensed into nner bag 42. It is to be noted that the outer and inner bags are preferably sealed together also along their outer edges to facilitate the dispensing of the corrosive liquid into the flexible inner container. In order to fill inner bag 42, an upper corner of bags 42 and 44 1s snipped away to permit access to the inner bag. After filling, the access area is closed by a simple heat seal.

Finally, the upper flaps are closed and held in position above the inner container in a manner previously discussed.

In use, an indicating mark 54 is placed on one of the end portions of the tape 34. Probe 56 is directly thrust, as shown in FIG. 9, into the assembly of FIG. 7 so that the outer point 48 thereof passes through end portion 36 of the tape 34, then through side panel 18 of the relatively rigid outer container 12, and then through the flexible walls of the outer and inner bags. I As shown in much greater detail in the prior copendng application Serial No. 845,851, the probe 56 further includes locking means 60 which are interposed between the side panel 18 of the relatively rigid outer container 12 and the outer bag 44. Grasping means 62 are provided somewhat rearwardly of the probe to facilitate insertion thereof. The probe 69 is hollow and the corrosive liquid contained in the inner bag 42 flows into the probe by means of an opening 65 formed in the forward section thereof. A hose 66 is secured to the rearward end of the probe so that the corrosive liquid may flow from the probe 56 and then into the hose 66 for dispensing when desired. Clamping means (not shown) are secured to the hose in order to control the dispensing of the corrosive liquid.

It is thus seen that the present invention effectively solves the problem of the multiple inner container pulling away from the force of the inserted probe, as well as the inner bag moving away from the outer bag under the force of the inserted probe. Moreover, the present multiple unit container is assembled with a minimum of labor. All that is necessary is to secure a corner of the container to a bracing member which is thereafter bent under the container with the entire inner assembly being placed inside the relatively rigid outer container.

It is further observed that materials or techniques other than adhesive tapes or adhesive taping may be employed in the present invention. For instance, the corner of the inner container could be heat sealed to the bracing member. Moreover, the bracing member may be constructed from well known materials other than corrugated cardboard, such as, plastics including polyethylene, cellulose acetate and the like, wood, glass, etc.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A multiple unit container for storing a corrosive liquid comprising a relatively rigid outer container and a flexible inner container for holding-said liquid, a relatively rigid bracing member positioned between said inner and outer containers and beneath the lower surface of said inner container, said bracing member having one edge thereof in a substantially fixed position adjacent a lateral surface of said outer container, and a corner of said inner container fixedly secured to said bracing member adjacent said edge, whereby a liquid dispensing probe may be inserted through said lateral surface and into said inner flexible container at a point adjacent said corner while movement of the inner container relative to the probe is substantially prevented.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said corner is wrapped around said edge of the bracing member and is secured to the underside thereof by adhesive tape means.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said relatively rigid outer container is of generally rectangular shape and said bracing member is also of generally rectangular shape.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said bracing member is of essentially the same dimensions as a crosssection of said relatively rigid outer container.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said flexible inner container comprises an outer bag and an inner bag secured together at least along the lower edge thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,352,503 Walton June 27, 1944 2,365,159 Walton et al Dec. 19, 1944 2,382,536 Baxter Aug. 14, 1945 2,898,027 Scholle Aug. 4, 1959 

